Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Friday called on youths to shun all violent tendencies that are inimical to the peace, progress and development of the state.
The governor also charged the youth to always resist any attempt by disgruntled politicians to use them as agents of destruction especially during the forthcoming elections.
Governor Bello who made the call in Lokoja during the 2018 World Peace Day cerebration organized by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), said his administration has built bridges of peace to unified all the ethnic groups in order to foster unity among them and pave ways for the existence of progress and development of the state.
“This administration came to unite the people of Kogi state; it is only through unity that the people can enjoy peace and once there is peace, there will be development in term of infrastructure and provision of basic social amenities to the people by the government”, he said.
The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja, said in the past, Kogi state was “the headquarters” of armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism, noting that due to the proactive measures put in place by the present government, all those vices were things of the past.
He also called on the youth to contribute their quota in the effort to sustain the existing peace in the state.
Earlier, Mrs Gift Owonipa, ActionAid Programme Manager in the state and Executive Director of PIBCID, explained that the essence of the road walk embarked upon by youth, students, government officials and members of Non Governmental Organisations in the state was to cerebrate peace that is currently being enjoyed by the people in the state.
Owonipa advocated for an improvement in the standard of education, describing it as the only catalyst for the promotion of peace and tranquility in the society.
“As we advocate for peace, we are also advocating for an improve standard of education to enable government sustain the existing peace in the state”, she said.
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